KATHMANDU: Namche Festival-2012 is to be organised at Namche Bazaar in Solukhumbu district, the famous place known as the gateway to the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest, from May 27 to 29.

The festival is being organised coinciding with the Fifth International Sagarmatha Day and with the objective of promoting domestic tourism.

The festival with the slogan- Country of Mt. Everest, Incredible Place, Let’s Visit Namche for Promoting Domestic Tourism – features cultural tableaus and dances, showcases the historical, cultural, religious and natural heritages and provide information on the significance of this heritage. It also aims to raise public awareness on the adverse impact of climate change, said Phinjo Sherpa, on behalf the festival organisers at a news conference here on Thursday.

He said the main objective of the festival is to promote tourism in the Namche region and through this in the entire country.

Paragliding, rock climbing, heli sight-seeing, Namche Bazaar half-day tour, Sagarmatha sight-seeing, travel on the Tibetan trade route, observation of museum and tourism mountain climbing are some of the highlights of the festival.

The news conference was organised by the Nepal Mountaineering Association and Nepal Trekking Agents’ Association.